ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2025 29 Table 2 provides an overview of the temporal development of performance parameters. Milk yield was once again increased, while the SCC was reduced under the use of TB. Due to the positive impact also on milk ingredients, the profitability of the farm was particularly improved with the strongly increased ECM. Even considering the additional costs for the TB, the farm ended up with an average of over 300 € more income per day. In addition, the cows’ appetite normalized, and the incidence of mastitis was clearly reduced. FIELD TRIAL IV The last field trial presented in this series aims to show another, completely different facet of the clinical appearance of mycotoxins. It was conducted on a French dairy farm with about 70 lactating Montbéliarde cows and 20 heifers of the same breed with regular access to pasture grazing. Farm reproduction data showed a clearly reduced fertility compared to the previous reference period. This was accompanied by an increased prevalence of ovarian cysts and endometritis as well as cows not expressing heat behaviour or showing heat signs out of oestrus. The TMR analysis revealed an average contamination with ZEA of 13 ppb and DON of 447 ppb. However, other, undeterminable mycotoxins could have been ingested during grazing. Consequently, the TB was added to the TMR with a dosage of 50 g/head/ day during the first month, followed by a dosage of 20 g/head/day for the following four months. The reproductive health was assessed by the scanning technician who screened the animals for gestation after artificial insemination (AI). Figure 3 shows the historical development of the AI index (artificial insemination done/ fertile insemination, AI/FI) before and during the trial period considering also the fertility level before the problems began. The reproductive parameters show a clear improvement during the trial period, especially concerning the insemination success. During the third period, where the TB was added to the TMR, the AI Period before problems 2,2 2 1,8 1,6 1,4 1,2 1 2,8 2,6 2,4 2,2 2 1,8 1,6 1,4 1,2 1 Problem period AI-Index cows (AI/FI)* Under product use P Period before problems 2,2 2 1,8 1,6 1,4 1,2 1 2,8 2,6 2,4 2,2 2 1,8 1,6 1,4 1,2 1 Problem period AI-Index cows (AI/FI)* AI-Index heifers (AI/FI)* Under product use Period before problems Problem period Under product use Figure 3. Development AI index (AI/FI), artificial inseminations required/fertile insemination) Parameter Before trial End of trial Milk yield Milk fat Milk protein ECM SCC 28.0 kg/cow/day 3.93 % 3.33 % 27.7 kg/cow/day 541 [x1000/ml] 31.8 kg/cow/day 4.09 % 3.37 % 32.1 kg/cow/day 250 [x1000/ml] Table 2. Overview temporal development of performance parameters
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